Bould move: Arsenal legend to be Arsene Wenger's new No.2

Former Gunners defender renowned for being loud and having strong opinions will step up from youth squads to replace the retiring Rice

Tackling a new job: Ex-Arsenal defender Bould is back with the first team

Steve Bould will be Arsenal's new assistant manager after Pat Rice retires at the end of the season.

In a major shake-up of manager Arsene Wenger's staff, well-regarded reserves coach Neil Banfield will be promoted to first team duties to work alongside Wenger, who has had Rice as his No.2 since taking charge in 1996.

Arsenal legend Rice, now 63, was a member of the Gunners' 1971 Double winning team.

He will be honoured with a club function after helping Wenger bring unprecedented success to the club.

But the last two seasons have been a major struggle for Rice because of a chronic knee condition.

Bould - a member of George Graham's famous back four in the late 1980s and the 1990s - is well liked at youth level and is a popular choice from within the club.